In its briefing Thursday, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live had 39 million active users in the latest quarter, up 28 percent year-over-year. An active user is defined as someone who has signed into Xbox Live in the past month. In a post-earnings financial call, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella added that about half of all Xbox One owners log into Xbox Live every day.

Revenue generated from Xbox Live rose 17 percent compared to the same quarter last year. Microsoft said this was driven by more total transactions, as well as higher revenue per transaction.

This isn't to say Microsoft is totally doing away with talking about console shipment numbers, only that it will place greater emphasis on "engagement" with Xbox Live. We've been told Microsoft sees this as a way to more accurately measure engagement with the Xbox ecosystem.